Train Wrecks Are Funny!!

Daddy, this blogs for you. We miss you like crazy!

Best Photos EVER!

We had an amazing photo session in Portland with Xea! She's a great photographer and mother, not to mention the fact that she played a big part in who I am as a person.
Charlie was very well behaved and had a good time hammin' it up for the camera. Check em out...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kittyyum/

As I've reached my upload limit on Flickr (what? why a limit?) my next blog will be a picture post of Chachi's christening right here on blogger. His head's all wet and he's in his Sunday best! God said he was the cutest baby in the church...or was it in the world? Either way God was totally high fiving him all day.

I'm Back!

Damn! It has been forever since I've written anything on my blog! I blame the many illnesses that plagued our house. Chachi was sick for a month with some horrible high fever-throw up thing. And then Christmas came and blah, blah, blah. But no more blog neglection, I promise. It's time to get back to it and I mean proper. To make it easier on myself I will upload my photos (if there's loads) onto Flickr because Blogger takes for-freakin-ever!

So to wet your whistle, the first of many photo installments: Our trip to Portland 2009!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kittyyum/sets/72157623139527122/


And coming up next week...our professional family photo shoot with my oldest friend in the world Xea! These photos will make you want to roll Chachi up into a little ball and put him in your pocket.

No One Likes A Lonely Yank

Can you believe it's September?? Where did the summer go? I think I say that every year. I'm really looking forward to fall however. I absolutely love fall. It brings thunder, rain, cold snaps, hot water bottles, color, Halloween, the smell of burning leaves and wedding anniversaries. It's my favorite season. It will also bring us back to Portland! It's been a whole year since our last visit and I promised my Pops I'd come back home once a year. So it's a good thing Jenn's getting married in October, that's the main thing that brings us back.

I'm dead nervous to fly with the baby. Will his ears be hurting? Will he cry the whole way there? Will I get mad stink eye from the other passengers? Will he be getting over the jet lag just as we have to come back? Will all my hard work establishing a sleep schedule to ruined? But I know it will all be worth it to see him in his grandparents arms. No one tells you this but after you have a baby you get super sappy and cry at anything.

Things around here are okay. Charlie is doing great! He can rollover now and he can sit up for short periods of time. He's eating, smiling, pooping, playing and nursing everyday. But believe it or not this blog is not about Charlie.

I need some Sherrie time, some bitchin' and moanin' Sherrie time. I'm homesick...again. Probably just because I know I'm visiting soon so Portland is really on my mind. But it's more than just that. Being a mom and not having my friends or family here is turning out to be harder than I thought it would be.

I'm finally coming out of the baby fog. The first few months are so full on, the baby is all you can think about! All your energy is spent keeping the baby alive and happy. Faces come and go and somehow the groceries get bought and the garbage gets taken out, but really you are nothing more than a mothering machine. You run on empty with your foot on the gas pedal all day and all night.

But now things are calming down and Charlie and I are in a groove. We understand each other. I can distinguish between his cries and he gets my jokes. I'm no longer being milked every hour so I can think about life again. Or rather trying to have a life again.

Being here with a baby has been very isolating. So I thought I'd join as many mommy groups as I can. I started with the one at the Health Center up the street. It's a post natal support group where you learn about weaning, baby sign language and things like that. I met a gal and we exchanged numbers. Oh how excited I was! I came home and told Paul and Maria "I got a girls number!" But it was not to be. Unfortunately I didn't make the cut into the cool gang. "Thanks for applying Sherrie, but you're just not what we're looking for". Which is a middle class, white, English woman. I met the cool moms in the park last week and they walked two by two leaving me in the back...alone...twice. Whatever. I took note of the other mom's on the outside of the clique: the black mom, the Asian mom and me, the American mom. Whatever.

I went to the Tots club today for the first time. I didn't talk to a single person and not a single person talked to me. And all the kids were way older than Charlie. But it was pretty laid back and he got to play with new toys and watch other kids interact. They have a sing along at the end and he dug that. So it's good for him. And it seems like the kind of place I might meet someone at some point so I'm gonna keep going. We also start Music Shakers next week. It's a babies only group that does sing alongs. Fingers crossed for that one.

I've never been in a position where I had to make a certain type of friend. It's odd. I really need to communicate with someone who is going through the same thing I am. But also someone who gets me. I really, really miss my friends back in Portland right now. I really miss Americans in general. We may speak the same language here, but a lot gets lost in the translation.

I'm gonna keep trying. There are millions of mommy groups here, it's like nappy valley! My special someone is out there right now, perhaps looking for me :)

We took a drive through the country side to Henley in Arden last week. Just for ice cream. Which we ate in a graveyard.

My wedding bouquet got destroyed somewhere in the two transcontinental moves I've taken since being married. So Paul, the old romantic, had another one made for me. He was keeping it a secret but I saw him disappear with one of our wedding photos and he wouldn't tell me where he went. I was pretty sure he was putting a hit out on me.

Fun with plums! Which by the way, stain like a mofo.

Picture Post!!!

Belly Shot at 30 weeks

Beanie having a sulk. She got spayed and then just to add insult to injury the vet recommended we put a onesie on her after she got a hold of her stitches. Poor cone head.

Happier times with all her bits in her new Halloween costume

Me and my beautiful sisters (isn't black supposed to be slimming?)

Blarrrggg!!!

Halloween with Jenn and Lee

Halloween with Uncle DuWayne, Aunt Sharon, Jenn and Pops in the Pumpkin Patch

Feeling the alien inside move

Four year wedding anniversary with my "special" guy

Baby shower goodness

"Welcome back, Your dreams were your ticket out."

We're home, safe and sound if not somewhat disorientated. The first week was full of jet lag and hours and hours spent in the fracture clinic. My ankle is officially broken.

When I was about 15 or so I broke my ankle while walking down the max stairs. Ever since then I had a split in the middle of the ankle bone itself, you could feel where it broke and never healed properly. I found this to be the source of many heebie-jeebies when I forced people to touch the break.

They showed me the x-ray at the hospital and it was the exact same break as years before. Damn you, skankles! Just for this you'll be wearing those orange leg warmers ALL WINTER!!

They put a temporary plaster cast on it at the ER. That night I slept with a chopstick at my side for all those painfully urgent itches you get when you're wearing a cast, which I believe are like, 90% psychological. It's like having leg claustrophobia. After much waiting, bitching and moaning at the fracture clinic the next day, I got an aircast. Thank gawd!!! It's all plastic, Velcro and air bags. And it comes with a hand pump!

Whenever I get to leave the house, which isn't often, I have to use the aircast and the crutches. I look a mess. All big bump and hobbles. But it also gives me a one way ticket to sympathy town on the pity express.

Work called right after we got back and had a fantastic position to offer me at the same hospital I was working at before we left. I was temped to leave out the fact that I have a cyber foot but figured it might come up after it takes me 45 minutes to get to the bathroom and back. So I filled them in on the ankle situation and they kindly told me to piss off until after it's all healed. So I'm out of work for at least 3 more weeks.

Out of work, stuck in the house, and told to stay off my feet. This sucks! I feel so useless, lethargic and bloated. I can't wait to get back to normal. I did get a new haircut though and that helped.

After we got back I was on an emotional roller coaster. I miss everyone from home, I'm not sleeping very well, I'm temporarily disabled and I don't know where I belong. I feel like I don't belong in either place. Portland isn't my home right now and England isn't my home yet. I have important pieces of who I am spread over two countries. With the most important piece about to be born. I feel like I must come to terms with where I am and who I am in this place very soon. Because the time to think of myself is almost over and I need to be strong now more than ever before.

So it's the dawn of a new era! No more moaning about missing Portland. I can't feel guilty about living here anymore. I love all my family and friends so much and I'm sorry I'm so far away from them. But we'll move back some day for sure. In the meantime this is home and we'll visit Portland as often as possible. End of story.

I will post loads of pictures from the trip soon. I must get another belly shot up cause it's ever growing and it gives me a different perspective on how big it is. Baby boy is doing fine and kicked happily through out the flights home.

My friend Amy just had a little girl a few weeks ago (congratulations Ames!!!!) and I remember reading in her blog about how she was getting kicked in the ribs and I thought "Oh wow! I can't wait for that to happen to me!" Well now it's happening to me all the bloody time and it's no picnic. But I love to feel him moving around no matter what part of my insides he's pummeling.

Good News Comes In Twos!

So I’m three weeks in with the NHS and everything is going great! I’m meeting new people everyday and getting to know the people I work with even better. I’ve been able to help almost every department in the hospital; doctors, nurses, psychiatrists and social workers. It’s amazing how down to earth they all are. Sometimes I don’t have anything to do and I get really bored, but I just go for a walk around the hospital, have a chat with the front desk staff or tease the head wound victims.

As you all know we had our 20 week scan last week. (Side note: I use to hate it when my pregnant friends would speak in weeks and not months! But now I get why, it’s the only way your doctors, midwives and the books talk about pregnancy. You get used to it. So in layman’s terms I’m 4 months pregnant, or half way through). The sonographer started by pointing out all the major bones: legs, feet, arms, hands, spine, skull and ribs. Then all the major organs: heart, brain, bladder, and kidneys. Baby is healthy and all parts are accounted for. She measured things and took some screen shots for us to take home. Then it was time to look for the really important bits. And even before she said “It’s a boy!” it was clear to see that it was definitely a boy! There was this little willy sticking straight up! (Is this going to be one of those things that when he grows up he’ll say “Mom! I can’t believe you put that online!! I’m so embarrassed!”?)

Of course I started crying, I always do when we get to hear or see the baby. The picture was so clear! You could see everything! What surprised me the most was how much he was moving around. I can’t really feel all his movements yet, he’s so protected in there, and I always picture him sleeping soundly. But actually he’s dancing around all over the place! I was so impressed with the first scan but this one was way better. He was just a little bug before. But now, only half way, and he’s so fully formed. I guess since all his bits are made we just have to work on growing him bigger now. That’s why I eat a Snickers bar after lunch everyday.

As most of you know I was totally preparing for a girl, I even had the name picked out. I thought I was born to look after girls; after all I have 4 younger sisters and a step daughter. So I just assumed it would be a girl. How daft. So I’ve been trying to wrap my head around the fact that I’ll be raising a boy. And thinking about what kind of boy I want to raise. Paul can teach him to cook and how to play guitar. I can teach him about insects and Dr. Who. That way he'll be a good mix of cool and nerdy.

We have a few boys names on the shortlist, but nothing’s grabbed us so far. It’s really hard to pick out baby names! I thought it would be fun, but there’s so much to it. You don’t want it to be something you just found on the internet, it must have meaning. I like names with a good story behind them. And I don’t like super common names. Of course there are boys names we like but it always turns out that either I know someone with that name (“Oh not that one! I knew a Patrick in high school who was a real prat!”) Or Paul just doesn’t like it, or one of our friends has a baby with that name already (“Isn’t Angela’s son named Charlie?”) So we’re really no closer to naming this kid. But I’ll let you guys know as soon as we agree on something.

We’ve got a lot of work to do on the baby’s room. Actually its Maria’s room as well, which adds to the work. I want to make it comfortable for them both. We bought Maria a new bed on ebay. It’s one of those high beds with space underneath for drawers or a desk. The only problem is we had to totally dismantle the bed to get it in the car. And it didn’t come with directions. So I think we’re in for quite a puzzle. I also bought a ton of boys clothes on ebay. Mostly 3-6 months. We got 80 items for £30 and they’re all in great condition! I’ve been doing laundry for three days straight.

Now if you’ve made it this far through all that rambling you deserve to know the rest of our great news. We’re coming home for a visit!!! Paul and I will be in Portland from October 22 until November 7. We have a few things planned but I’d like to use this opportunity to organize a few other events.

1. Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze- Let’s get the old gang together for one last trip through the haunted corn maze. Who’s in? Rene? I know you’re down. Leah?

2. Dinner at Spag Fac- Baby wants some pesto dressing (and for Mommy to get better taste in restaurants) Cheesy, yes. But you can’t knock free bread. And it’s a bit of a tradition for Jenn and I. Everyone is invited! Just tell me if you wanna join us and I’ll let you know when we go.


Thank you so much for all your comments on my last post! It was so great to hear from you! And I had a good laugh reading them all. I'm so please that everyone is just as excited that it's a boy as I am!

Top Ten Things I Miss About Portland

(besides my friends and family, cause that's a given really)

1. Drinking beers with my friends on a porch in summertime, just shootin' the breeze for hours.
2. Getting Stumptown coffee on a Sunday morning, then crawling back in bed to read the Sunday comics.
3. Spag Fac dates with Jenn.
4. Getting lost in the corn maze & picking berries on Sauvie Island.
5. Sleepovers at my Mom's with my sisters.
6. Making movies with Rene.
7. Eating sushi and drinking sake at Kappaya.
8. Rollerskating at Oaks Park.
9. Driving over the bridges and taking in the view that never gets old.
10. Bloody Marys at The Space Room.

All you Portlanders know what I'm talking about. Enjoy what you have there, it's a lot. And don't you think for one second that we're not moving back someday. Cause we are.

Damn, now I'm super homesick! I miss you all so much! Love you too!

Portland Recap (This Blogs For You Ri-Ri)

The last month or so has blasted by and I have fully neglected my blog. Such great plans I had for my blog, oh the laughs we were going to have. But I found myself internetless and therefore blogless. I will bring you up to date with a quick run down of the last month and a half's events.

We moved out of the basement and into Jenn's townhouse on December 1st. Where we engaged in activities such as this:

And this:

We stayed in Jenn's luxurious spare room

We had a fantastic time, all the time. We played Clue and Rummikub for hours, ate dinner together, drank many bottles of wine, had friends over and tried to force them to play Clue. Jenn and I put on makeup together, did each others hair and traded clothes. We also found time to celebrate Jesus with naughty Christmas cookies:

Then Christmas came and we did Christmasy things like this:

And it snowed! It freakin snowed on Christmas day! We ran outside and our hair looked like this:

Of course after Christmas comes New Years! We played Clue at Jenn's, went to the B.O.G. and then ended up at Jackey's house where we spoke of nonsense and smoked ciggies around the fire place. If you had been there you would have seen this:

Then I turned 32 in January and the tomfoolery began at the Glowing Greens mini golf course. I highly recommend it for all ages and abilities.

After the shark attack we had a party at Jackey and Faye's house. Fun was had by all and I can prove it (click on any picture to enlarge, but do so at your own risk)

Clearly these people are having a good time. Alcohol may have been involved, but who can tell? They're pretty much always like that.

I have the best friends and family in the world. I hope they never lose me.